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The latest data appears to confirm fears that hospitals are overwhelmed with new Covid patients, with nine trusts in England now seeing more than half of their general and acute beds occupied by those in need of treatment for the virus.
The hardest hit trusts, treating more Covid patients than any other ailment, include Whittington in North London (65 percent of Covid patients), Medway in Kent (59 percent), Homerton University Hospital (56.8) and Milton. Keynes University Hospital (55.3%).
On Saturday night, Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, issued a stern warning that the UK faces its “most serious” battle against the coronavirus, which is leaving the NHS in the “most dangerous situation than any. can remember. “
Urging the public to stay home and obey the lockdown, he wrote in The Sunday Times: “Every unnecessary interaction you have could be the link in a chain of transmission that has a vulnerable person at the end.”
In addition to pressure from an ever-increasing number of Covid patients, hospitals have to deal with severe staff shortages.
Around 46,000 NHS employees are now sick with coronavirus after contracting it in the community or while working, accounting for one in every ten doctors and nurses in Britain, according to the Physicians Association.
Dr Simon Walsh, Vice Chairman of the BMA Consultant Committee and Emergency Care Physician in London, said: “In recent weeks we have seen an unprecedented increase in Covid admissions in hospitals. We are in grave danger of being overwhelmed.
“We have a depleted workforce that is exhausted but doing everything possible to keep the healthcare system running and therefore it is crucial that we urgently get the vaccine to as many healthcare workers as possible. It is also imperative that they have access to adequate protective equipment. “
The increase in Covid patients has inevitably put a strain on the hospital’s infrastructure, particularly its ability to supply oxygen for desperately needed ventilation.
St Helier Hospital in Sutton, south London, was forced last week to transfer a “small number” of patients to other hospitals after oxygen demand reached unsustainable levels.
That followed the declaration of a major incident at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich before Christmas, following similar problems with its oxygen supply.
Mr. Hopson said hospitals were stepping up efforts to secure supplies and “expand” their capacity to deliver oxygen to patients.
“The increasing admissions of COVID-19 patients means that the need for oxygen connected to the bed has increased dramatically. This presents real logistical challenges in a few hospitals but, as in the first phase, the trusts have quickly done what they need to continue to care for patients. “
Vin Diwakar, London NHS Medical Director, said: “Our staff are working around the clock to open hundreds of beds, including the London Nightingale, with some surgeries being postponed based on clinical need to ensure that all Londoners continue to receive urgent oncological surgeries. making the best use of existing NHS facilities and independent sector sites. “
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